Polisher unit



' July 14, 1936.

K. UYEDA POLISHER UNIT Filed April 4, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Kmuzo UYEDFI BY W77.

ATTORNEY July 14, 1936. UYEDA 2,047,340

POLISHER UNIT Filed April 4, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEY Patented .Iuly 14, 1936 NiT -ED srr FAT-1E ()FFICE POLISHER UNIT N Kikuzo Uyeda, Oakland, Calif Application April 4, 1933; Serial Nu-664,326

6 Claims. (01. 15-98 The-invention relates to a device providing arotary'and power-driven head for application to a surface for performingpolishing or other operations thereupon; Ari objectvof the invention is to provide a unit of the class described which is arranged for manual manipulationfor the application of its working-head against inclined and upright surfaces as well as against horizontal surfaces.

kt Another object is 'to provide in the unit a reservoir for a cleaning or polishing liquid to be applied during the use thereof, and means to effect a controlled discharge of such liquid-at the working head for all working positions of the "unit and head.

A further object is to provide forthe opera tion of the-rotary working head by means of a flexible shaft which is actuated by a stationary motor means; 2 w; An added object is to provide a generally improved working head for use in units of the. present class.

Yetanother object is to provide a unit of the class described which is particularly adapted for -t.use incleaning and/or polishing thebodies of vehicles;

The invention possesses other objects and fea.-: tures of advantage; some of which, with the fore-. going, will 'be set forth or be apparent in the n-following description of a preferred embodiment of the device and inthe accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is an assembly view disclosing the. present unit as operatively appliedto a generally :iupright-surface of anautoinobile body."

Figure 2 is a side view of the unit.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken at-3--3 .in Figure 2 and showing the back of the working head of the unit. Figure 4 is a fragmentary front face view of. the=working head, a central portion of a cover for the'polishing pad of the head being broken away;-

Figure 5 is an enlarged axialsection through the unit at and adjacent the polishingv h thereof.

Figure 6 is a section at 6-6 in Figure 5.

Figure '7 is an enlarged axial section of the, rear portion of the unit.

t Figure 8 is a section at 8 8 in Figure 5.

Figure -9 isan enlarged sectional view of a regulating valve shown in Figure 1.

As particularly illustrated, the features of the present invention are incorporated in a unit 9 having-a rotary working-head ll mounted on a.

shaft which extends through an elongated body I2 and is connected at the rear end of the body with a power-actuated flexible shaft i3. In the present instance, the flexible'drive shaft I3 is arranged for actuation by connection to the 5 shaft Qf' an eIeCtr-ic motor i k-and the-former shaftis enclosed in a usual flexible conduit If) for such shafts.

Forreasons which will hereinafter become-apparent, the shaft carried by the body i2 is sec- 10 tional and comprises a forward section I6 mounting=the working head H, an intermediate section il=angularly related to the section 16 and operatively connected-theretoby-means of bevel gears l8 and i9 carried by -the respectiveshaft sec- 15 tions 1 fi 'and i l; and a rearward section 2| axially aligned'with' the-section-l9 and extending rearwardly from the body for connection with the flexible'shaft I35 The body l2 comprisesgenerally cylindrical sections 22 and 23 and 24 respectively carrying th'eshaft'sections l6 and I l and 2 l journalled axiallytherein, it being noted that the :body sections 22 and '23 abut in a planebisecting the angle defined by their axes and are formed to cooperatively define a closed space 25 about th'e bevelgears i8 and I9.

Referring nowtothestructure of the working head ii; it is seen that this member of the unit essentially comprises a backing element 26 of rigid material-=threadedly mounted on the protruding end of theshaftsection l6- and carrying comprising a disc of greater diameter than the face of the element 26 engaged thereby'and axially'perforated opposite the nut 28 to; permit access to said nut. The pad 2? may be glued or otherwise secured'to the element 26.

Since the working head may frequently be operated overconcavedly rounded surfaces, it is preferred that the working face 29 of the pad be given a comically dished form opposite the element 26*whereby to insure a good working contact, it being noted that-this arrangement results ina major use of the outer pad portions, when thepad is applied to fiat surfaces. For insuring an evenand' proper distribution of polishing liquid over the pad face 29, the latter is provided with a series of grooves 3i radiating spirally from its central opening, said grooves being deepest at their inner ends and terminatin short of the outer pad edge.

In the use of sponge rubber or the like for a pad 26, it will generally be desirable to cover the pad with a layer of fabric or other pliable sheet material for actual frictional contact with a surface to be treated; in the present instance, a pad cover 32 is provided, said cover arranged to generally enclose the exposed pad portions and formed of flannel or other suitable fabric. The cover 32 is arranged to be shaped from a circular piece of material having a central opening provided with a hem carrying a loop of cord or wire 33. Circumferentially thereof, the nut 28 is formed with an annular groove 34 for receiving the central cover hem and its enclosed cord 33 whereby a screwing up of the nut 28 into its operative position is arranged to draw the central cover portion inwardly against the pad face 29 and so insure a flat engagement of the cover over said face. At its circumferential edge, the cover is provided with a hem receiving a drawstring 35 for tensing the cover around the pad edge, the use of the drawstring 34 being particularly brought out in Figures 3 and 5. It will be noted that the pad 26 constitutes a friction or rubbing disc and may be so designated either with or without the facing cover 32 mounted thereon.

Means are provided for discharging a cooling draft of air against the rear of the pad 26 as the working head is rotated. As particularly shown, the smaller end of the element 26 is in opposition to the forward end of the body portion 22, and the perimeter of said element 26 is provided with a plurality of slots 36 extending spirally therein, said slots undercut and otherwise so formed that the portions 37 of the element 26 between them are operative as blades of a rotary fan for discharging air against the back of the pad 26 for cooling the same and preventing its overheating through friction as the head is rotated in the indicated direction. Besides its previously mentioned functions, the element 26 is also arranged to serve as a flywheel for the rotating assembly of the unit, and the actual weight thereof is largely determined by the consideration of this element as a flywheel means.

It will now be noted that the forward shaft portion is is tubular to provide a duct or passage 38 through which a cleaning or polishing fluid may be conveyed to a point centrally of the polishing pad 21. As particularly shown, a pipe or tube 39 extends freely through the shaft passage 33 to discharge forwardly of the shaft end, said tube. mounted on and extending from the intermediate body section 23 whereby it is clear of the gears in the space 25 and is held against any rotation in its place. A ball-bearing thrust ring 4! is engaged between the head element 26 and the opposed outer end of the body portion 22 for limiting the inward movement of the shaft portion IS.

The mutually aligned body sections 23 and 24 are arranged to jointly serve as a handle portion of the unit, and in order to facilitate the use of the unit in various working positions, it is desirable that the angularity of the axis of the working head with the axis of the handle portion be somewhat less than ninety degrees. In practice, it is preferred that said angularity be close to eighty degrees as is particularly shown, it being noted that this relation disposes the handle portion for the ready grasping and manipulation of the unit by an operator while permitting the provision of a relatively short forward body portion 22.

As particularly shown, the intermediate body member 23 is of one-piece structure, and the inner end of the tube 39 is threadedly engaged in the forward end of a duct 42 extending axially through the member adjacent its longest side, said duct terminating at the space 25 and outwardly of the bevel gear as is shown. Valve means are provided in the duct 42, such means being particularly shown as comprising a needle valve 43 threadedly engaged in the member 23 and operative to control the flow of a liquid through the duct.

In the present structure, the bevel gears i8 and I 9 are fixed to the respective shaft portions I6 and l? and the respective assemblies are disposed in stepped bores of the body members in bearing engagement with solely the end portions of the bores. In this manner, chambers for a lubricant are provided between the bore ends, said chambers being arranged to receive lubricant through appropriate oiling ducts 43 extending radially thereto through the different body members.

The rearward body section 24, it will now be noted, is generally hollow to provide a cylindrical chamber 44 which is coaxial with the shaft portion 2| which extends longitudinally therethrough and therefrom. At its forward end, the chamber 44 terminates at a cross-wail 45 which defines the forward end of the body section 24 and provides a bearing for the shaft. The crosswall 45 is provided with a generally axial duct 46 for connection with the duct 42 of the body section 23 whereby the chamber 44 may serve as a supply reservoir for liquid to be delivered to the working head H through the. tube 39.

Since the present unit is to be applied while in positions which would preclude a gravity feed of liquid from the chamber 44 to the working head of the unit, means are provided in the unit for effecting a pressure feed of the liquid when the valve is open. Accordingly, and as shown, that portion of the shaft 2| which lies Within the chamber 34 mounts an helical feed screw 41 which closely fits within the bore of the chamber 44 whereby, upon a rotation of the shaft in the appropriate direction, liquid in the chamber may be forced forwardly therein and into the duct 46. In the present instance, the thread of the feed screw 4'! comprises a radial and integral portion of the shaft 2!.

By reason of the pressure created at the forward end of the chamber 44 through the functioning of the feed screw 4?, packing means are preferably provided for the shaft 2| at the crosswall. 45. As particularly shown, the shaft-receiving bore of the cross-wall 45 is enlarged at its outer end for the reception of soft packing 48 and a gland 49, the latter threadedly engaging the enlarged bore portion, and the stuffing box thus provided preferably disposed inwardly of the forward end of the body section 24.

It will now be noted that the rearward end face of the intermediate body member 23 and the forward end face of the rearward body member 24 are arranged to mutually abut in the assembly of the polisher unit, and that such a relation of these members is shown as effected through the action of a coupling sleeve 5! which threadedly engages both said members for drawing the same into mutual engagement of their said end faces. As shown, an annular gasket 52 of compressihle ematerialads-sinterposed' betweemathezr formedrineinner-rface: of-sithetr cross-wall 45';

members forJ'sealing: the'v jointurer thereats; said gasket lyingeinwardly a ,of the *dischargerpoint fora theductflhwlrereby :saidductzmayadischargedntos:

are: atathe-same; distance afromither-oommon: axis; ofrtheshaft seetions:-I 1 land ZI butzsince'za mutual z registrationvof these duct ends would? generally:

benaccidentalti-mthe present assembly; it :will' b clear that the space 53 will usuallygprovideath requiredsconnectionj between the ducts; I If 'ide:-

sired, an, annular grpove-:-,5 4; may; be. providedein' r tthe forward face.rof-theworossmwalli115;= said groove coaxial "with" .the shaft. 1 axis-.and including; the. dischargesends of the duct r451 wherebyv to insure 1a a connection-40f the-two ducts shouldrtheigaslcet r Fibber-omitted oribe relatively thin.

*1 Whentthe presentzunitelementslane assembledr f0!=uS6,--$heI-f0I'WaIdBIlduOf':the shafii ,2I -is.ar ranged-r towextendtinto the shaftereceiving EbOIeTT'; of thexbody membera23n for. interlocked rengagee 1 mentv with. the opposed-enda of: the: shaft IT.- AS ashown, a tongue-vandeslot :engagement of :"the; shafts is provided-whereby the shaft -I 1 :may .turn l; withrthashaft, 2 I -Whi16r3. :freetax-ial separation r of thewshaftsa-and'bodyssections 23i-andzr24-"is pers mitted:

cross-wallu .45 as; a separately ,formed element valvje 4311s sopen: .to' ;permit::a metered-feedingz of 52=-and sle,eve 15 I i Preferably, the tinlett andzdisaz. charge -ends; ofi .theiducts; ,4 and-r 46 respectively whereby:saidnagrooveiris operative-as: a .manifoldyz With.;respect-:.to the ducts.=.

Itlwilllnovwbe: notedathat ewhen the discharges:

liquid :to ,the marking; head L! I, "thew-retumw flow n valve 66 may be'ssettto:insure-the-desired pres-.2-

composition of the liquid to be applied; it being It;-.wi1l: how -be? notedrthatthev .body section 24? comprisessa tubular-a element 55 carryingsgthe' shaft 12 I. at ,its eentrahbore. A oollar 5l riS pro vided ontthe shaftJZ I rat'gthezrearwardi end of the, 1'

upon it by:;- reason ofethe ireactive thrust :Of", the

1 -f eed ,1 screw.--

Duringttheloperationlpf the present unit;-t he liquiduinuthe. chamberr 44: is :arranged to be Tied forwardly, in the chambereby the feed screw-r4l eat positive discharge:

tionship; however,

A, sembly. 5841s operatively .zengagedi'betweene the fora:

wardfaceaofrthe element 15 6---.and .theireariside: of the collar: 51; inthis. manner; the shaft 2 I is {held I 1. against the rearward displaeement'whichris urgedw means are provided for:permitti-ng sucha return.

flowto-the degree required. Accordingly, and ass:

particularlyshown inFigures5 and l, the shaft 2 I is provided with an axialrductlfi I said-,ductexeadjacent and forwardly of the shaft collar 51, radial inlet and discharge ports 62 and 63 for the duct BI being provided through the shaft at the respective aforesaid points thereof.

Opposite the ports 62, the bearing bore of the cross-wall is enlarged to provide an annular groove 64, and a duct 65 extends axially through the cross-wall 45 to the chamber face thereof whereby to conduct liquid from the chamber to the groove 64. A valve means is preferably provided in the duct 65, said means particularly shown as comprising a needle valve 66 threadedly and radially engaged in the cross-wall 45. As shown, the inlets for the ducts 4B and 65 are provided at the bottom of an annular groove 61 sure:;discha1'ge 1atatheifirst valve-:1 IfHnoU-liquid' 1:

is :rwantedsat-t'thelworking .head, :the valve 43 would eb'e aclosech; anduithertva-lvez':66: would. :be"=1'0 fullyropened :to: minimizeztherreturn "fiow=':pres+.: sure; Irrzthis :manner; :thertpower; required: for "r actuatingmthesfeed'; screw :41: may? 'be minimized 2. f or: allr working v. operatingmonditions 1 of 1 the unit 1 I: andza positivevregulatior'cnf :liquid'discharge mam-1 5 barf-effected. ;:..It Willi bezfurther.v understood thatxfi the; constant: :circul ation'o'of liquid: forwardly :rby theztfeed screw; and rearwardlyrthrough'theireturn ductifi l:.-is operative to maintain an. homogeneousm 20 noted thatrtheapresentiunit :mayberusedfof: apaplying eithen cleaning:ior'spolishing' liquids, suchfi: liquids. generally t'comprisingi solutions 1 or; emul-r i. sionsaafasoap or wax;;respectively.

A .fillinglopening; is :provided' forxthe chamber :25

44: at:.a :ra'dialuand JtllblllBliEBXtBl'lSiOfll 116 of the 1:. tube 55. As shown, the extension isprovidedt-t atcth'e' arearwarct tubewendzand: 'the outer :endeof thetextensiorr :16 J is ithrleadedifor:mountingi a coir-xv pling sleeve H which: fixes-1a 'fianged-aenduof a '30 hose; nipple "'1 8 one .fiexibleihose' I9 tozthexextensionIBitozprovide'ausualzpipe coupling -struce sealedly fixed in the. forwardv tubei end.. I At:v its rearward end, the ,tube' 15 5 :mountsan axially 1perewforated olosure element56 providinga rear cross-w: wallafor theachamberq 44 and a bearing:;f0r themv ture. v The: hose I9 is :arranged to, conveyxthe. cleaning or tpolishingxliquid; to L the chamber 44- from-a asupply .tank: 8 I' through, the operation: of '35 a pump: .82r which is conveniently connected .:to: r theishaftsofuthe' motor I4 for continuouslactuatiohath'ereby:andrtherewith. Preferablyxthe-en-y crating; pump 182215 arrangedv'to automatically maintainuthe liquidi'supplyEim the; chamberr-A I; :4 returning'tthe excess "liquid ":rcirculated' there= throughto the-ltank 8| through a return-pipe 83 having a suitable pressure-actuatedmelief valve- 84 thereinawherebmwhen the pressure in the hose 19 -reaches a' predetermined limiting-value, a por-v tionzror.=all-fofzthe liquid disch'arging 'from the. 1

pump: isepermitted-sto flowaba'ck toathe tank .BIL:

through::the return'xpipel. The .hose :I91 and the";v

flexible mablelconduit i1 Samaytsbea fixed'atogetherm along their. length whereby they 1 may. behandled togetheraras the unit 9 is 'movedrtabout by. anop-H eratorz: It willbexobvioirs :thata closure cap may be substituted for thewsleeve I 11: should; :a .con-s stant. renewal: supply. to the: chamber 44 not 'be' desireds'f Asiilhistratedysa pipetzTrilfi'lprovidesaa com: montconnecti'o'n for the: discharge pipe; fromi the v pump and the hose I9 and the returmpipei tfii s, tending from a point ofnttheshaft. oppositeithe hearingzboreiof :thenross-wall 45 to a shaft point and the: relief ivalve :84 isz-provided at:.ethe-..=dis; charge: :eml roof the xreturnzpipe;. 83; .By reference: 6 to Figure :9, :it iwilllrbefnoted that: the relief. valve 84 comprises a tubular and radially flanged body 86 which is fixed in the side wall 81 of the tank BI to extend therethrough, and receives the discharge end of the pipe 83. A spring-pressed ball valve 88 is operative at a seat 89 provided intermediately in the body passage, and a radial discharge passage or port 9| is provided in the body 86 at the discharge side of the valve ball. The arrangement is such that the valve is constantly and automatically operative to maintain a constant predetermined pressure in the hose I5.

Means are provided for permitting a relatively free rotative adjustment of the unit 9 about the axis of its handle portion, and to this end the unit body is connected to the forward extremity of the flexible conduit l5 for the flexible shaft I3 through an helical spring ll. As shown, a coupling sleeve 12 is provided at said end of the conduit IS, a gland cap 73 mounted on the element 56 is reduced at its rearward end to the same size as the sleeve 12, and the ends of the spring H are secured to the sleeve 12 and portion 13 by means of screws 14 engaging the sleeve portion. It is noted that the rotation of the unit shaft assembly urges a rotation of the entire unit 9 in the same direction and that the conduit I5 is constantly operative to resist such rotation of the unit whereby the unit tends to maintain a fixed position with respect to the conduit; the interposition of the spring H in the disclosed manner permits an operator to rotate the unit out of its normal position when required for the application of its working head against a surface to be treated.

While I have described the principle of operation, together with a device which I now consider to be a preferred embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made, when desired, as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States the following:

1. In a unit of the class described, an elongated body adapted for manual support and providing an interior reservoir chamber for liquid to be applied by the unit, a working head, a rotary shaft journalled in said body and carrying said head for rotation therewith, means providing a duct from said chamber to said working head for conducting liquid from the chamber to the head, pump means for actuation in said chamber and the liquid therein to deliver liquid from the chamber into said duct while constantly stirring the liquid, and a common means to actuate said shaft and pump means together.

2. In a unit of the class described, a body arranged for manual support and providing a cylindrical reservoir chamber for liquid to be applied by the unit, a working head, a rotary shaft carrying said head and journalled in said body to axially traverse said chamber, means providing a duct from an end of said chamber to said working head for conducting liquid from the chamber to the head, a valve in said duct adjustable to regulate the liquid flow therethrough, and a feed screw carried by said shaft in said chamber for operation as a pump means in the liquid therein during a rotation of said shaft and for effecting a pressure flow of liquid to said chamber end and into said duct.

3. In a unit of the class described, a body arranged for manual support and providing a cylindrical reservoir chamber for liquid to be applied by the unit, a working head, a. rotary shaft carrying said head and joumalled in said body to axially traverse said chamber, means providing a duct from an end of said chamber to said working head for conducting liquid from the chamber to the head, a feed screw carried by said shaft in said chamber for operation as a pump means during rotation of said shaft for effecting a pressure flow of liquid to said chamber end and. into said duct, and means providing a return passage for fluid from said chamber end to the other chamber end.

4. In a unit of the class described, a body arrangedfor manual support and providing a cylindrical reservoir chamber for liquid to be applied by the unit, a working head, a rotary shaft carrying said head and journalled in said body to axially traverse said chamber, means providing a duct from an end of said chamber to said working head for conducting liquid from the chamber to the head, a feed screw carried by said shaft in said chamber for operation as a pump means during a rotation of said shaft for effecting a pressure flow of liquid to said chamber end and into said duct, means providing a return duct from said chamber end to the other chamber end, and a valve means in each of said ducts.

5. In a cleaning and polishing unit for manual support during a working application thereof, an elongated body member providing a handle for the unit and a reservoir for liquid to be applied with the unit, a sectional driven shaft journalled in said body and having a rearward por-- tion thereof coaxial with the body axis and a forward portion thereof tubular and defining an acute angle with the body axis, gearing means connecting said shaft portions for the coaction thereof, a rotary working head mounted on said forward shaft portion, and means providing a duct to convey liquid from said reservoir through the passage of said forward shaft portion and centrally of said working head to discharge at the head for application thereby.

6. In a cleaning and polishing unit for manual support and manipulation during a working application thereof, an elongated body member providing a reservoir for liquid to be applied with the unit, a sectional driven shaft journalled in said body and having a rearward portion thereof extending longitudinally of the body and a forward portion thereof tubular and angularly related to the body axis, means connecting said shaft portions for operation together, a rotary working head mounted on said forward shaft portion, and means providing a duct to convey liquid from said reservoir through the passage of said forward shaft portion and centrally of said head to discharge at the working face of the head for application thereby.

KIKUZO UYEDA. 

